Mechanical musical instrument.



No. 666,634. .Patented-1an. 9, 190|.

J. WELLNER. MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. (Applimidn 6x66 Aug. 96,' 1666.)A (No llod6l.) 2 Shasta-Sheet I.

Illlll No. 666,834. Patented Ian. 29, 190|.

J. -wx-:LLmlzn- MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Appumion med Aug. ne, 1899.) (No lodol.) f 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.-

UNITED STATES PATENT Carica.

JULIUS WELLNER, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,834, dated January 29, 1901.

Application filed August 26, 1899. Serial No. 728,582. iNo model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, J ULIUs WELLNER,a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the means of feeding the toothed disk, technically known as the tune-sheet, into the operative position it occupies in front of the comb in a mechanical musical instrument. Inasmuch as my feedingdevice is a distinct and separate mechanism capable of being explained and understood without reference to any of the other parts included in the construction of a mechanical musical instrument and, further, as mechanical musical instruments are as well known in the art as they are and have been made the subject of Letters Patent at various times, I shall omit any description of such parts, confining myself to the elements that form my mechanism.

The object of my invention has been to furnish means, first, to convey the tune-sheets to a certain specified point, and, secondly, to elevate them from that point into operative connection with the comb. The most important thing to be secured in this part of mechanical musical instruments is a mechanically simple, frictionless, easily-controlled, and manipulated means for bringing any desired tune-sheet of the series con tained in the instrument into operative connection with the comb. Various mechanisms have from time to time been devised covering this mode of operation, but none to my knowledge containing so few elements and operated and constructed so simply as the mechanism-herein described.

In describing my invention I shall call attention to the accompanying drawings, where like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the dilferent views.

Figure l is a front View of my improved feeding mechanism having a-tune-sheet supported therein ready for elevation to the comb. Fig. 2 is a side view of the niechan; ism as shown in Fig. l, illustrating tune'- sheets to the rnumber of twelve arranged in regular rotation, the one marked A/ being in a line with the elevating-levers. Fig. 3 is a top view of the front part of the mechanism broken off toward the centerline, showing tune-sheet A/ lying in the elevating-levers. Fig. 4 is a top view of the rear part, showing part of the tune-sheets as they have been used in succession. Fig. 5 is a front view taken from the same point of view as Fig. l, showing a modification of my screw conveying means and also showing means for attaching the tune-sheet after being raised by means of the levers into the position shown in dotted lines. Fig. is a top view of the front part of the mechanism as seen in Fig. 5, broken off toward the center, and more particularly showing the action of the single screw and the vsliding guides at the side; and Fig. 7 is a side view of the mechanism as seen in Fig. 5, where, it may be remarked for the sake of clearness in illustration, the top part of the standard B5 is removed to show my improved tune-sheet-attaching means better.

B indicates the frame, having six upright standards BQ B2, B3, B4, B5,and B6. Pivoted rotati vely between the standards B' and B3 and B2 and B4 are two screw-cut rods C and C2. These two screws C and C2 and the single screw C3 (illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, and 7) form the nucleus of my invention and constitute the operative means that convey the sheets f to their point of elevation. VAs a matter of fact they possess two functions-one as a means of conveyance, the other as a means of support.

In order that the tune-sheets A may not topple over forward or backward and may be enabled to maintain an absolute perpendicular position, a guide-rack D is furnished in the bottom of the frame B, said guide-rack fitted with teeth, between a pair of which teeth each disk has thelowest part of its circumference located, and as the said guiderack has a dovetailed formation tting into a similarly dovetailed channel ruiming throughout the bar D, forming part of the bottom of frame B, and as said rack D is IOO fitted very loosely in such channel the rack will move simultaneously with the disks.

Referring to the manipulation of the screws C' and G2, C2 will be seen to have a disk or wheel E, attached on the outside of standard B2, said disk having` an arm E', by the manipulation of which arm a rotary motion is given to the screw C2. At the rear of the frame B, as best seen in Fig. 4, two disks F/ and F2 are mounted on the ends of, respectively, C and C2. These disks are fitted with a crank-pin each, F3 on F' and F1 on F2, and connecting said pins is a connecting-rod F5. lt can now be readily observed that by these means the rotary motion given to screw C2 will be transmitted to screw C', and as they are either both right-handed or both leftlanded they will move the tunesheets A either backward or forward. rlhe sin gle-scre w action, as illustrated by the screw C3 in Figs. o', and 7, shows that the functions of support and conveyance as described formerly in the case of screws C' and C2 are equally applicable in this instance. The screw C3 is supported in the diminutive standards, or what might bemore properly termed lugs, B9 and B10 and is rotated by means of the disk l2, having the handle E3. lnasm uch as the guide-rack D furnishes a guiding means for the tunesheets in the double-screw system, equally so a guiding means is desirable in the case of the single screw. Said guiderack D could be utilized in precisely the same manner as shown in Figs. l to 4c by supporting the bar D', duplicated between standards l5 and 133 and B2 and B2; but another and possibly better means, mechanically speaking, is a series ol bushes L, mountedon tubes O and 0l, said tubes slidably secured on the rods O2 and Oil. The said rods are supported between-the standards B B3 and B1, the tubes O and O' only being half the length of the rods in order to guide the tunesheet series back and forth on the rods between the standards. Various means can be applied to control the revolutions of the screws, as well as indicators to announce the turning of the screws one complete revolution, one revolution being the rotation necessary to bring, for instance, tune-sheet A2 within reach of the elevating-levers, as in the position it occupies in Fig. 2. Consequently if tunesheet A2 is desired it would require eight turns of the handle E to bring said sheet forward to the elevating-levers. From this it can be seen that there must be an equal number of threads on the front and rear side of the elevating-levers, as shown in Fig. 2l, insoinuch as if, for instance, tunesheet A12 were desired the screws C and C2 would have to be lfurnished with twelve threads to take up the disks as they passed successively bythe elevating-levers until A12 was reached.

Referring to the construction, combination, and operation of the elevating-levers, (designated by letters G' and G2,) it will be seen that said levers are pivoted by means of pivotpins G3 and G1to the standards B5 and B, located toward the center of the frame B. These levers are connected by a series of links or connecting-rods, as follows: To the horizontal arm G5 of the lever G there is pivoted a link H', said link pivoted to the arm H2 of the swing-lever H3, pivotally affixed to the standard B5. The other arm H1 of said swing-lever is pivoted to the link HU. H6 is pivoted to the arm H7 of a second swing-lever H8, pivotally affixed to the standard D, whose other arm H9 is pivoted to the link H10, which link H10 is finally pivoted to a horizontal arm G6 on the lever G2. By following the course of the attached arrow-heads it will be seen that when a. power is applied so as todepress the horizontal arm G5 of the lever G said lever will be raised and bythe succession of links just enumerated the second lever G2 will be equally raised, so as to perform the functions they were intended for-viz., to elevate the iunedisk between their prongs to its operativelocation. rlhe means immediately acting upon the horizontal arm G5, causing the necessary depression, is an eccentric disk J, whose eccentricity of course will he regulated commensurate with the vertical height to which it is necessary to elevate the tune-sheets so as to bring them into operative connection with the comb. The said eccentric disk J is keyed on a shaft l, supported between the standard B5 and a n arm lll, forming part ol' the front standard B2. Secured on the end of the shaftl is one ol a pair of mitcr-gears K, meshing with its coinpanion gear K2, affixed to a shaft M, said shaft M supported between the arm BS and the standard B2. Finally, there is also secured a spur-pinion N to the shaft M, which spur-pinion N can be made the recipient ol any kind of motive power directly or indirectly, and thus cause motion to be given to the eccentric disk J, which disk at each revolution will move the elevating-levers in the manner and for the purposes already doscribed. These two means-the tune-sheet conveying and tune-sheet elevating meanscan of course be operated individually, as here described, or they could by very simple mechanical elements be connected with each other, and thus be operated in harmony with each other, the motive power either beingadministered by hand or by connection with any kind of automatic machinery.

With regard to the ultimate connection between the tune-sheet, the star-wheels, and the comb l shall now proceed to describe one means of connecting these into operative connection and in so doing will refer to Figs. 5 to 7. These means will only be described here briefly as a necessary connecting-link between my improved conveying and elevating means and the final operative position of the tune-sheets, inasmuch I propose at a later period to apply for a special patent on the said tune-sheetattaching means.

In Figs. 5 to 7 it will be observed that the standards B5 and B6 have been raised to a greater height than as they are shown in Figs. I to Ll. Between these extensions there is secured a plate P, to which the star-wheel support and the comb are attached in the customary manner. Secured to this plate P are further two bearings PandP2, between which bearings a bar Ps is pivotally attached. Between said bar P3 and the plate P the tunesheet is elevated to its proper height by the already-described elevating' means. There consequently remains one more operation yet before the tnne-sheet can be brought into contact with the star-wheels necessary for the production of music. The means for this operation are as follows: A pin Q is provided in the bar P3, and attached to the plate P by any ordinary means is a corresponding seat Q', the said seat being furnished with a hole Q2, adapted to receive the pin Q. It will thus be seen that the sheet A', having the hole Q4, will, when lying between the bar P3 and the plate P and the bar is moved around its pivots Afrom the open position in which it is shown in Fig. 7, be supported on the pin Q, the pin Q iirst passing through the hole Q4 and then into the hole Q2 in the seat Q', thus locking the tune-sheet in aposition where the teeth on the said tune-sheet will contact with the starwheels and these in turn with the comb-dents. When reopened, the pin will by reason of its slauting position release the tune-sheet,which will then be lowered by means of the elevating-levers. The openiiig-and-closing movement of the bar is operated from the horizontal arm G5 of the elevatinglever G', as follows: Attached pivotally directly or indirectly to the horizontal arm G5 is a connecting-rod R, whose other end is pivoted to one arm S' of a right-angled lever, said lever pivoted to a bearing S3, attached to the standard B5, the other arm S of said lever having a roller mounted in the end of it bearing against an arm T, which arm T forms a rigid part of the bar P3. It can now be seen that when the horizontal arm G5 of the lever G' is depressed it will pull the rod R downward in the direction of the arrow-head V and simultaneous therewith through the medium ofthe lever S elevate the arm 'l of the bar P3 in the direction of the arrow-head W, consequently closing the bar in the direction of the arrowhead U, which was the desired object.

That more screws or means having screw action of the character of' U', C2, and C3 could be employed under somewhat different circumstances and a diierent arrangement Without departing from the spirit of my invention will be apparent. That likewise minor combination details, such as the connecting means between the two screws C' and C2011 the link system connectingthe elevating-levers, could be modified and altered will be evident; but

Vhat I particularly claim in View of the foregoing description, and desire to secure protection for by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a mechanical musical instrument with separate tune-sheets 'for operating the same, the combination of one or more screws moving said tune-sheets by means of the threads engaging directly with the edges of the tune# sheet; with means for elevating said tunesheets into their playing position, substantially as described.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument, separate vertical tunesheets for operating the same; one or more horizontal screws below the sounding device for conveying said tune-y sheets to and from their elevating position by having the edge of said sheets placed between the threads of the said screw or screws substantially as described.

3. In a mechanical musical instrument, separate tune-sheets for operating the same, one or more screws moving said tu ne-sheets to and from their elevating position, each sheet lying between two consecutive threads, and guides supporting the tune-sheets substantially as described.

4. In a mechanical musical instrument, separate tune-sheets for operating the same; one or more screws having two consecutive screwthreads engaging the edge of each sheet so as to move said sheets to and from their elevating position, elevating means for attaching said tune-sheets in their operative position, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. In a mechanical musicalinstrnment hav- J ULIUS WELLNER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES W. BRowER, AUeUsT M. Tnnscnow.

IOO 

